The Los Angeles Kings aren’t where they expected to be in the Pacific Division standings coming out of the Christmas break, but winger Kevin Fiala doesn’t seem overly concerned heading into the next matchup on Saturday evening against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.
The Kings are fourth in the Pacific Division, five points behind the Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers.
Los Angeles won just one of its final seven games (1-4-2) before the break and didn’t score more than two goals in any of those games.
“I’m sure we’re going to get out of this, but it’s not acceptable right now how we play and we have to get better,” Fiala said. “I really believe in this group, I really believe this is a great team, great players, we just have to figure it out and find our game. Not just for some minutes or one game, we have to go for a stretch here, try and get some wins in a row, start feeling good, start playing good and eventually it’s going to come.”
Fiala scored his 13th goal of the season in the 3-2 loss to the visiting Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, moving into a tie for the team lead with Adrian Kempe.
Of course, righting the ship is what matters most to Fiala.
“Even if you win five in a row, or lose five in a row, it’s in the past,” he said. “For us, I think we need to take the good things with us and the bad things we, hopefully, analyze and get better.”
Kings coach Jim Hiller is hoping the break will reinvigorate his team.
“I hope the players are able to relax and refresh themselves,” Hiller said. “It’s been from September until now, with the schedule and now busy it is and 85% of our games we’ve been playing within one goal, it’s taxing physically and mentally, so I’m sure those guys need a break.”
The Ducks were hoping to go into their break on a high note, but they fell to Kraken as well, losing 3-1 on Monday night for their fifth loss in the past seven (2-4-1).
After finishing last in the NHL in power play percentage last season, the Ducks got off to a good start this season but have faded recently, going 0-for-12 with the man-advantage in the past four games.
“Obviously, it’s been a little frustrating,” Ducks forward Mikael Granlund said of the power play. “At same time, let’s take this break and come back freshened up. Obviously, we’re going to need our power play to be able to win some of these tight games. It’s going to be, obviously, an emphasis on moving forward.”
Granlund, acquired from the Dallas Stars in the offseason, has been the brightest offensive player recently, scoring in four straight games before the break.
“I think he’s got his pace to his game back,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “And now that he has that, his play recognition and ability to make those plays in tight areas has been very noticeable, and sustains a lot of pucks in the offensive zone, gets some exits out of our zone cleanly.”
The Ducks won the first Battle of Southern California, 5-4, on Nov. 28. Visiting Los Angeles blew a 4-2 third period lead and Anaheim tied the game on a Leo Carlsson goal with 91 seconds remaining. Then Troy Terry and Mason McTavish tallied in the shootout to earn the Ducks the extra point.
Carlsson leads the Ducks with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists).
–Field Level Media
